How will North Thurston students be learning this fall? Parents can choose
After receiving feedback from work groups and the community, and heeding guidance from state and federal agencies, North Thurston Public Schools has unveiled a plan to educate students this fall during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The plan, which was approved by the school board this month, is under way. Emails have been sent to families about two choices: 100 percent online instruction, which builds on what the district did during the spring, or a combination of face-to-face instruction and online learning.
“I’m 100 percent behind trying to get students back to school,” said school board member Dave Newkirk.
Last week the district sent parents an email about which option they would choose for their children. The early returns show that out of 15,000 students — North Thurston is the county’s largest school district — only about 1,300 students have so far signed up for 100 percent remote learning.
Parents have until Aug. 3 to make a decision, but the early trend reflects a family survey compiled by the district that shows nearly 60 percent of families want face-to-face instruction. And for the parents of kindergartners, it’s nearly 70 percent.
Those who don’t sign up for 100 percent remote learning will be informed of their child’s hybrid schedule by Aug. 14, according to an email sent to parents.
Parents also should be aware that the district’s plan could change if COVID-19 infection rates continue to climb. Seattle Public Schools recently reversed course on its plan and will now start the school year with all students staying at home.
“Right now we’re moving ahead with the hybrid plan,” district spokeswoman Courtney Schrieve said.
Olympia School District Superintendent Patrick Murphy said OSD also is aiming to implement a hybrid model in which the student body from each school would be split into two groups, The Olympian reported.
And what happens if a student attending classes tests positive for the virus? North Thurston said that student’s class would shift to remote learning, but it doesn’t necessarily mean the school would close.
“If we have a positive COVID-19 case at a school, we will follow the guidance of our county public health department,” Schrieve said. “Each case and how we react will depend on the level of exposure. Our top priority will to keep our students and staff safe.”
Key elements of the plan
During this month’s school board meeting, North Thurston assistant superintendent Monty Sabin walked the board through each element of the plan, including the hybrid approach, which will divide students alphabetically to determine if they attend school Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Fridays are for students who need additional educational services and support, according to the district.
The district decided to divide students alphabetically so families with more than one student in the district could attend school on the same days.
“We’re just thinking about families and their scheduling and trying to be accommodating,” Sabin said.
School operations: There will be an emphasis on face coverings and hygiene, including the use of hand sanitizer and regular hand washing, Sabin said. Appropriate drop-off and pick-up locations will be established, he said, and high student traffic areas and touch points will be regularly cleaned and sanitized.
Food: The district plan is to have a simplified menu of grab-and-go items and won’t offer a salad bar or self-serve meals, he said. Students will be able to eat their meals in the classroom or a commons area as long as social distancing can be practiced, and on days when students are at home, the district is also considering packaged foods for breakfast and lunch, and the option of a five-day meal kit for those students doing remote learning only, Sabin said.
Volunteers and visitors: Parent and visitor access to school buildings will be limited, Sabin said.
More cleaning: No additional custodians have been hired, but the district has recruited volunteers to help with cleaning, if needed. The district also has invested in a cleaning machine that has been used with success during flu outbreaks. Bathrooms will be regularly cleaned.
Health screenings: The district is unable to screen 15,000 students before they get on the bus or enter school, so one possibility is an app-based system where parents could check their children at home before they come to school, district spokeswoman Schrieve said.
Mental health: The district’s mental health specialists will continue to work with students and families dealing with the grief, isolation, economic challenges and other traumas created by COVID-19.
Riding the bus
One of the biggest challenges is how to accommodate students on a bus in the age of COVID-19.
Transportation Director Deanna Maddux says it begins with registering students online so that they can be assigned to a seat on the bus, one student per seat.
If they have more students, then siblings will be seated together, or by neighborhood pickup location. They also will have a 6-foot buffer between students and bus driver, and all will have to wear face coverings.
The district also will take advantage of its “smart tag” system, which tracks the students when they get off and on the bus, Maddux said.
“We don’t have all the answers, and we don’t pretend to have all the answers, but we hope people understand that we’re doing the best we can, and that we all have to be flexible,” district spokeswoman Schrieve said.
“We’ve been though this once already,” she said in reference to the remote learning that happened over spring, and that the district has improved on what it previously did.
“We’re going to give kids the best we have to offer,” she said.
More resources
For more information about North Thurston’s back to school plan and frequently asked questions, go to: https://www.nthurston.k12.wa.us/backtoschool.
To reserve a seat on a school bus, go to: https://www.nthurston.k12.wa.us/transportation.
This story was originally published July 26, 2020 at 5:45 AM with the headline "How will North Thurston students be learning this fall? Parents can choose."
